The Jets are heading into practice with one of the league’s most watched quarterback situations, and the biggest unresolved question still sits right behind Geno Smith.
New York has spent the offseason sorting through plenty of issues, but the quarterback picture remains the one that matters most. The team is looking for answers both in the short term and long term, and for now the focus has shifted to who will handle the QB2 role.
That competition is expected to play out over the next few weeks and months, but the job does not appear to be locked down by anyone currently on the roster. The Jets do have multiple options to consider, including younger players and a few veterans, yet none of them seem to have separated themselves enough to claim the spot soon.
There’s also a real chance the team adds another arm before long. As noted, this is the position that feels most likely to get outside help from general manager Darren Mougey.
“This spot, more than any other, feels like the one general manager Darren Mougey is most likely to add to. Maybe it will come during training camp, maybe after roster cuts, but at a minimum, it would surprise me if the Jets didn’t add someone. It might not even be a player who would get fans excited, but one of these three quarterbacks needs to show a lot more in the early stretch of camp to have a legitimate shot to be Geno Smith’s top backup.”
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Jets Suddenly Linked To Another Young Quarterback Behind Geno Smith
The Jets quarterback picture already has a clear headline for 2026, with Geno Smith in line to start and a backup battle forming behind him. Cade Klubnik, Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe are all in the mix, but the room could still be worth watching if New York decides it wants another young arm in the pipeline rather than simply riding with the current group.
That is where Bleacher Reports Kristopher Knox has nudged J.J. McCarthy into the conversation. The Vikings quarterback has appeared in 10 games and has yet to lock down the job in Minnesota, which leaves his long-term path open to interpretation if he does not seize the starting role there. For the Jets, it is the kind of speculative quarterback wrinkle that can linger around a roster even when the present plan already seems set. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Just Sent A Brutal Message About Ex Jets QB Justin Fields
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Fields remains the intriguing name because of what he offers and what has held him back, with questions about tempo, accuracy and avoiding sacks following him from stop to stop. For now, though, the bigger issue in Kansas City is not whether Fields can fit, but whether the path he was supposed to open has already been narrowed before he gets a real chance to prove otherwise. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Linked To Another Quarterback Twist Fans Didn't See Coming
Dillon Gabriels spot in Cleveland has become one of those quarterback situations teams around the league keep watching, and the Jets are now being mentioned as a possible suitor. Gabriel is currently projected as the Browns third-string quarterback behind Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, which makes his long-term path in Cleveland murky enough to invite questions about whether another club could try to get involved.
The appeal is easy to see on paper, even if the fit in New York is far from straightforward. Gabriel played in 10 games with six starts last season and completed 59.5 percent of his passes with a 7-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio, but his overall efficiency lagged behind league average. The Jets also just used a draft pick on Cade Klubnik to develop at the position, and with multiple future first-round picks in hand, they are not exactly short on options if they decide to keep building the room their own way. [Read more 🡒]